Duke Max: New life in the listed Karstadt am Stachus!

Duke Max: New life in the listed Karstadt am Stachus!

in Munich, where the air is bursting with departure and fresh wind, there is new news from the city center. The former Karstadt Sport am Karlstor got a new life after years of vacancy. The “Herzog Max” project was opened on July 8, 2025, and this reinterprets a listed building that has been part of the cityscape since 1865. Investors of the Wilhelm von Finck Group who own the building and the project developer Accumulata took five years to complete the conversion. The Süddeutsche reports that the official opening with important representatives from politics, including Bavaria's Mistory Christian Bernreiter, City building councilor Elisabeth Merk and Munich's business officer Christian Scharpf.

In the past, the location on the stachus was more hidden. After the bankruptcy of "Karstadt Sports" 2020, the building was empty for a long time. The new course towards a mixed-use property, away from the department store, is an important step. Since April 2023, the building has been seen as a 'flagship store' of the sports brand New Balance. "It hardly reminds of a sports department store," says Günter Koller from the Wilhelm von Finck Group. In addition to New Balance, Duke Max can find a law firm and the Institute for Innovation and Competition of the Max Planck Society, which with its almost 10,000 square meters is the largest tenant. After all, 95 percent of the approximately 14,000 square meters of total area have already been rented, which shows that the concept falls on fertile soil.

a new face for downtown

A central aspect of the redesign was the redesign of stairwells and the creation of green atriums and walk -in roof terraces. These modern elements are intended to help create a contemporary ambience that appeals to both customers and tenants. The conversion aims to make the city center more attractive and to set an example against the trend of empty department stores. T-Online emphasizes that many inner cities-so including Munich-stand and say and say Write 14,000 square meters for sustainable use.

In addition, the Herzog-Max-Straße was upgraded. This is where new trees, a fresh paving and freezing surfaces for future gastronomy meet the historical flair of the quarter. These investments not only aim at a new coexistence of living and working, but also on an appealing cityscape that should offer Munich and their visitors a place to feel good. Instead of the faceless department store doors, there are now modern entrances that make you curious and invite you to linger.

With the opening of Duke Max, the city of Munich gives another step into the future. Innovative ideas on the subject of sustainable use should prove to be a model for other inner cities. The signs are on change and progress - for Munich and its citizens.